Indecisive Honeymoon Planning
 

Hi,

I would like some assistance in tips and ideas on a fascinating honeymoon. We are getting married on April 26 and would like to leave for our honeymoon April 28 - may 3. So anytime between those dates we would like to begin our honeymoon . Our honeymoon goals would be:

7-10 days

4-6k USD

Fly out of NY/NJ



We are between a couple ideas that would meet our budget and time restraints but our main ideas are as such:

Australia ?

Greek Islands or Italy ?

We have even thought of a Mediterranean cruise if the dates allow this ?

One of our other ideas are Costa Rica or Belize but we learned its the beginning of there rainy season?

We are a young couple about 30 years old that enjoy the beach but also like to do lots of activities. I wouldn't mind walking through Italy or Greece eating delicious food and sightseeing but on the other hand we would enjoy walking around a volcano, caves, zip lining, parasailing, and even jet skiing .Australia seems amazing with wildlife or visiting the coral reef for adventure but not sure if our budget or time period allows for this since its almost a 24 hours one way to Australia. We have been saving up and really would like to take advantage of having one memorable honeymoon that we can always remember.

Please any tips , ideas, or opinions would greatly be appreciated.

Given the budget I'd suggest SE Asia, possibly Bali. The first places you mention are all relatively expensive and, yes, the airfare to Asia might be a bit more but once you're there a very upscale experience will cost what a down market experience would be elsewhere. And there is a no place on Earth more romantic than Bali. In my opinion.

With those time, budget and interests, I would not suggest you spend the time or money to cross an ocean to anywhere. While a week in Greece or Australia might be memorable, it is just so impractical when you have so little time.

I would suggest looking for a destination where even with only a week you can expect to come away saying, 'OK, we had enough time for that place'. Not, 'We had one week and needed much more'. In other words, a full experience that you can leave with no regrets.

For example, most people would consider one week enough time to visit a Caribbean island or a resort destination in Mexico. But even to see Costa Rica properly (ignoring for the moment the rainy season issue) you need to cover both coasts. Hard to do in just a week really.

You need to provide a bit mor clarity re your budget to get workable suggestions. Is that money each or combined? Does it include airfare, hotel, all other expenses or is it after airfare and hotel have been paid for? Big differences.

I will give you one possibility that will be 'different' from the usual. http://www.concordiaeco-resort.com/unit-types-rates/

With 10 days you can get just about anywhere and have it feel worthwhile if you don't move around once you're there. But it depends, too, on if you mind the travel which I don't. If you hate the getting there part then I suppose a destination closer to home would be better. But given you seemed willing to consider Australia then I guessed Bali wasn't too far. And it's small enough for plenty of variety, beaches to volcanos, without moving from one place. If you stay in Ubud, toward to center you can rent a small villa with a cook and have drivers to take you here and there and do it on your budget.

Belize is a great idea. Rain would just be brief T-storms besides its a honeymoon isn't it?

Hi everyone,

I have an update that I think i'm about to book for my honeymoon , any thoughts? Celebrity Cruise line is having a cruise leave Rome on May 5th a week after my wedding.11 day 9 port celebrity cruise The itinerary is as follows:



Rome

Naples

Valetta Malta

cruising

Mikonos Greece

kudasi turkey

Athens Greece

Santorini Greece

chania Crete Greece

cruising

Venice

sleep at Venice

* This seems like a good deal and the price for balcony is around $2750 per person *

Do we have any thoughts on the celebrity Silhouette ?

The cities that we stop at?

Any experience with their pricey drink package?

If the boar departs 5:00pm Rome on a Monday coming from NYC what would be ideal time to look for airfare so I can enjoy Rome for a couple hours before we board and leave?

Is 11 days to much ?

Do we book the Concierge balcony or is it worth the somewhere 800+ upgrade for Aqua class?



Any thought s or Ideas would be greatly appreciated

Do you really want to share your honeymoon with almost 3,000 other people?

You do realize that when you are in port, most of the other passengers will be there too and it will be CROWDED? And that you will have only a few hours in each port?

However, IF you really want to cruise I recommend visiting cruisecritic.com for more informed advice.

I like to recommend Peru for a 10 day trip from the east coast. You won't have jet lag because you are flying north-south.

Not terribly expensive if you don't use at travel agent.

I would never book a cruise personally and have a hard time trying to understand why anyone would. A cruise is a food trough that moves and that's about it.

You spend only a small fraction of your time actually IN places. Does anyone actually believe that saying 'we spent 4 hours in X' means anything?

A cruise is NOT about the places the ship stops in, it is about eating and ticking places off a list. You are NOT going to 'see' any of the places on the list.

If that is your idea of a memorable honeymoon, it's your choice. Superficial is the word I think of as synonymous with the word cruise.

I love the idea of an Italian honeymoon, but I'd do it on your own. I don't think it's very "romantic" to be on a large ship with thousands of other people.

With the 10 days you originally mentioned you could easily plan an independent Venice/Florence/Rome honeymoon. Traveling between the cities by train. Having your privacy and independence along the way.

lor, it looks like you've added a few days to your OP. That's good.

If you really want to do a cruise, I'd check on the Cruise Forum and see what types of extras you'll end up paying for that you thought were inclusive. Because the 2750 puts you at the top end of your budget.

You might have more fun just going with your husband on your own through Italy. You have some time to pick up a few phrases in Italian and find some great little hotels that you'll always remember.

Plus, I read once that "you can't get a bad meal in Italy." My husband and I made the mistake of going to Italy with on a group tour. Guess what, you can get lots of bad meals in Italy if you don't pick out your own restaurants.

Go to the Europe forum here on Fodors and you will get some good advice about Italy. It's a favorite destination for some.

Best Wishes

Cruises don't really appeal to me either, so I can't really comment on that part.

However, I HAVE been to Costa Rica in the Green (rainy) season and it was terrific. It rained sometimes, but not all the time - maybe an hour in the afternoon or something. I was absolutely POURING when we arrived and 30 minutes later we had clear skies and sunshine. I wouldn't hesitate to go in the Green Season again. The jungles are incredibly lush and green that time of year.

I like the Bali idea too - we spent 8 days in Bali a few years back and have been dreaming about returning ever since. It is an amazing place. The culture, the people, the food, the scenery - just loved it. The only down side is that you can't get a good beer if your life depended on it - LOL. We returned to Singapore after our visit to Bali - and went straight to BrewWorks and sucked down the suds like thirsty people in a desert :) Ok - so that was a little off topic, but bottom line is that Bali is a great idea for a honeymoon.